elephant man's disease

noun

1. neurofibromatosis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant man's disease¹

From the name given to Englishman John Merrick (1862 or 63–90), who suffered from an extreme form of the disorder and was exhibited as a freak

Example Sentences

You just found the gene for neurofibromatosis, often confused with Elephant Man's disease.

From Time Magazine Archive